Agenda item

Rhoi cyfle i Aelodau'r pwyllgor archwilio ymateb y Cyngor i'r argymhellion wedi'u nodi yn adroddiad Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru sy'n deillio o'r astudiaeth genedlaethol ar Daliadau Uniongyrchol ar gyfer Gofal Cymdeithasol i Oedolion.

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications explained that before handing over to the Director of Adult Services, he would advise Members, that in line with the Council's broader governance arrangements, Auditor General reports on any subject, were considered by the Audit and Governance committee and, in this case, those matters are referred through, as part of the model of good governance, for scrutiny to consider those recommendations.

The Director of Adult Services, began by explaining that the report provided Members with an opportunity to examine the Council's response to the recommendations raised by the Audit Wales National Study of Direct Payments for Adult Social Care, published in April 2022, and a copy of the feasibility study was attached at Appendix A. Members were advised, that Direct Payments were an alternative to local authority arranged care or support, and could help to meet an individual’s or carer’s need. Direct Payments aimed to give people more choice, greater flexibility and more control over the support they received, with the study looking at how Direct Payments helped sustain people’s wellbeing and whether they were actually improving quality of life for an individual. Audit Wales also looked at how local authorities managed and encouraged the take up of Direct Payments. The current number of adults in receipt of a Direct Payment had increased to 421 as of 30^th September 2022, continuing an upward trend over the past 4 years as shown at paragraph 4.6 of the report.

Members were advised that having considered the findings of the National Study, an action plan, has been produced, and included at Appendix B, outlining the progress to date and the actions to be taken to address the recommendations made, with these actions included in the Adult Services delivery plan for action this year.

The Director of Adult Services then advised Members that a revised Policy will be in place by December 2022, and this will be accompanied by new and improved public information, staff guidance and training which will promote direct payments locally as a more attractive and accessible alternative to commissioned care.

The Director also explained that people using Direct Payments are reliant on an ability to recruit and retain personal assistants and the Council’s commissioned support provider Dewis CIL had improved the way help is provided to people to find personal assistants. Dewis CIL are also supported by the Regional Workforce Development Team to deliver training and support opportunities for Personal Assistants. Members were also advised that Adult Services were developing opportunities for local people to set up microenterprises in their communities that can offer a wider variety of care and support options available for purchase with a Direct Payment.

The Director also advised Members that whilst performance management were currently systems in place, a Welsh Government steer, was awaited, regarding the development of a direct payment evaluation system and new performance measures, so there was consistency with other local authorities across Wales.

A Member sought clarification around the Personal Independence Payment, and access to a Carers Allowance, noting that this was a very low benefit.

The Director of Adult Services advised that the Member was talking about something, that was outside of the Direct Payments policy, but he confirmed that he would speak to colleagues in the local authority, who would have more knowledge around this, and other central government departments, who also dealt with these benefits, and would provide a response back.

A Member noted the barriers to family members, regarding Direct Payments, and sought clarification regarding this, acknowledging, there was a massive shortage in social care, and was something that could ease the burden on everybody.

The Director of Adult Services acknowledged the Members comments, around the workforce issue and explained that as part of the feedback from users of direct payments, what had been done, was to create more flexibility within the new policy, in terms of family members. although he advised there was still some restrictions in relation to approval of husbands and wives, i.e., a relative living in same household and in each such case is dealt with on an exception basis, within the new policy.

The Member felt, that in relation to husbands and wives, this was something that needed to be looked at sooner, rather than later.

The Director of Adult Services provided the Member with reassurance that under the new policy, rather than a blanket approach, individual cases would be looked at on their merits, and that the employment of a husband and wife, is determined to be most effective way of promoting and delivering a person’s wellbeing outcomes.

Following consideration by the Committee it was RESOLVED to acknowledge the Council’s response to the Auditor General for Wales’s report arising from its national study of Direct Payments for Adult Social Care.